Mike Alsbury Memorial Fund

$155,262
of $125,000 goal

Who we are: Scaled Composites employees, friends and family of Mike and Michelle.

How this money will be given to Mike's family: Gofundme has an option to cut a check for the lump-sum of the donations. This check will be given to Michelle, Mike's wife, once we close the campaign.

Additional note: Because we have received so much support and reached our initial goal in one day, we are going to keep this page open until further notice.

Media requests: Due to the ongoing NTSB investigation, we have been instructed not to respond to any media requests at this time.

Last but not least, this money is going to the family. We have Mike's best interest at heart. If you need to contact anyone, please feel free to send an email to the contact listed on this page.

This fundraiser is being managed by Mike's friends and co-workers at Scaled Composites.

Michael (Mike) Alsbury, Test Pilot and Project Engineer for Scaled Composites, passed away on October 31, 2014 due to an anomaly during flight test. Mike was a husband, a father of two small children (ages 10 and 7), amazing friend and co-worker. Mike had worked with Scaled for over 15 years. This is a tragic loss that will leave a void in Mike’s family, the Scaled family, and the surrounding community for years to come. We would like to do anything we can to support Michelle and his two children.

“In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night . . . You--only you--will have stars that can laugh!”

“Wishing you peace during this difficult time. Love, The Befu Girls (friends of the Wildmans).”

“Dear Michelle, Thank you for all the years of love, adventure and family you added to Mike's life. Thank you for being the base from which he could take off for the skies and follow his dreams. Our love, admiration, respect and commitment are with you, always.” - The Whiteside’s Family

“God Speed Mike and heartfelt condolences to the Alsbury family.”

“You were an inspiration to us all. Godspeed Mike.”
“May God bless the entire Alsbury Family during this time. Thank you Mike for everything you have given, I will miss your smile.”

“I am so sorry for your loss. He was a hero and will be greatly missed. His contributions to space travel have furthered the cause immeasurably. I wish you all the best.”

“This gentleman is one of those rare brave souls that push the envelope and move humanity forward.”
“So sorry for your loss. I am praying for you and your family at this time.”

“From UTS, our condolences on your loss.”

“My thoughts are with you all.”

“Thank God for heroes like Mike! Our hearts and love are with all of his family.”

“Thank you for expanding mankind’s horizons.”

“My deepest condolences to Mike's family and friends. My resolve to make spaceflight a part of the normal experience for people around the world will be forever buoyed by his.”

“Thank you, Mike, for helping forge the way to the stars. Rest in peace.”

“With thanks for Mike, his passion and contributions to aerospace, and with heartfelt respect and condolences for his family and friends.”

“Although we were not privileged to know Michael, we do understand how deeply he was committed to his mission. Our sympathies to his family and the Scaled community.”

“With love from an employee of XPRIZE. May love and support from your friends and family help see you through this very difficult time.”

“My condolences to the family. Had a few Aero classes with Mike back in the day. He was a good guy.”

“Our thoughts are with Michelle and your kids during this time. Thank you, Mike.”

“As a fellow aircraft tester, you have my condolences.”

“Michelle, you don't know me, but your family has been in my thoughts every day since the accident. I know this note may come as little consolation to you, but I just wanted to express what so many of us are thinking and feeling. Mike achieved something very little of us do- I am not talking about being a pioneer of commercial space travel, but rather that he was living his dream personally and professionally. I can't think of a more glorious and beautiful way of having lived his life. Your family has made the ultimate sacrifice for the progress of mankind and, like many; I want to thank you for that. You must be so proud of Mike. As an American and aviator, my heart swells with pride. I can't help but tear up as I write this. It takes so much courage to keep going from one day to the next after losing a loved one- you are an amazing person. Mike's legacy lives on in your two young children who I have NO DOUBT will become wonderful human beings, just like their mother and father. With all the love and support I could possibly offer, your family will always be remembered and continues to be in our prayers.” - Erika Clements

Mike Alsbury, 39, of Tehachapi passed away last Friday, Oct. 31. He died in the crash of SpaceShipTwo near the Mojave airport.

Mike was born March 19, 1975, in Santa Clara, to Linda and Rich Alsbury. He grew up in Scotts Valley, and graduated as a valedictorian from Soquel High School in 1993. Mike went on to obtain a degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In college he met the love of his life, Michelle Saling. They moved to Tehachapi in 2000 and were married in August 2003.

Mike’s love of planes and flying began in childhood. He got his pilot's license at the age of 23, followed by numerous other pilot ratings. Mike was a “pilot’s pilot” and absolutely loved to fly. He was a brilliant engineer and started working at Scaled Composites right out of college in 1998. Mike was indeed a class act and well respected colleague.

Mike was an avid fly fisherman and San Francisco Giants fan. He enjoyed hiking, camping, backpacking, mountain biking, and traveling with his family. He was an Eagle Scout and also played soccer from a young age.

Above all things, Mike loved his family. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, and son. He was a kid at heart and will be remembered for his endless energy, easy smile, great sense of humor, and generosity.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Michelle; and their daughter and son (ages 10 and 7); parents, Rich and Linda; twin sister, Nikki; her husband and their children; his grandparents; sister-in-law, Melanie; her husband and their children; and parents-in-law, Denise and Fred.

His amazing and wonderful spirit will be celebrated at a private family memorial. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Mike Alsbury Memorial Fund at www.gofundme.com/mikealsbury.

Wood Family Funeral Service, Inc. was entrusted with his care. For condolences please visit woodmortuary.net.

On behalf of Michelle, the kids, and Mike and Michelle’s family, we would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support that we have received. We are so appreciative of everything that the Scaled Family has done, and is continuing to do for us during this extremely difficult time. Everyone has gone above and beyond anything that we could ever believe. We could never have imagined the magnitude of this horrible tragedy and how many people this has affected and touched in some way. People that were close to Mike, just acquaintances, and complete strangers have all reached out to this family in some way. This kindness and generosity of everyone is so very much appreciated by our family that words will never be able to express our gratitude and the amount of comfort it gives to us at this very dark time.

Here are a few more of the wonderful comments some of the anonymous contributors have left:

"You are missed! You were a great person, dad, friend, coworker, test pilot and engineer! Rest in peace my friend."

"Always reach for the stars...thoughts and prayers to the family"

"Because of the work and sacrifices of men like Mike humanity progresses and ensures that the future will be wondrous for generations to come. "

"Michelle, You don’t know me, but your family has been in my thoughts every day since the accident. I know this note may come as little consolation to you, but I just wanted to express what so many of us are thinking and feeling. Mike achieved something very little of us do- I am not talking about being a pioneer of commercial space travel, but rather that he was living his dream personally and professionally. I can’t think of a more glorious and beautiful way of having lived his life. Your family has made the ultimate sacrifice for the progress of mankind and, like many, I want to thank you for that. You must be so proud of Mike. As an American and aviator, my heart swells with pride. I can’t help but tear up as I write this. It takes so much courage to keep going from one day to the next after losing a loved one- you are an amazing person. Mike’s legacy lives on in your two young children who I have NO DOUBT will become wonderful human beings, just like their mother and father. With all the love and support I could possibly offer, your family will always be remembered and continues to be in our prayers, "

"In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night . . . You--only you--will have stars that can laugh!"

We choose to go to the moon.
We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.